Fundraisers put on their running shoes and took on 26 gruelling miles in the London Marathon on Sunday.

Emma Brennan and James Tapp were two of the runners who finished the route.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I did it,” said Emma, who lives in Brixworth.

“I started running exactly a year ago with a group of mums from the village and initially only managed lamp post to lamp post. In time we entered our first 5k, then I challenged myself to 10k.

“It’s safe to say I caught the running bug and had soon signed up for my first half marathon, the Royal Parks, London last October.”

She raised £1,171.13 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton.

Emma added: “Then the absolute challenge came up and I was offered a place in the London Marathon running or Cynthia Spencer Hospice.”

She raised a raffle alone in the village where she lives raised £1,399 alone for this year’s fundraiser.

“The grand total today stands at £3,078 and I would like to thank everybody.”

James, who lives in Northampton, said: “I have lost both my parents to cancer - my dad spent his final weeks in the hospice before passing away and not only did it give me great comfort to see the high level of care that he was provided with, he was also very happy and comfortable there.

“This year a good friend of mine lost her husband Bernie to cancer, he also spent time at the hospice.

I have been doing lots of fundraising with friends and family including A sweepstake on how long it will take me to run the marathon, dress down days, grand national sweep stake, the staff at Nationwide have been so supportive.”

He has raised to date is 1433.40

Support the runners - visit www.justgiving.com/Emma-Brennan7 or www.justgiving.com/James-Tapp2